Finding Your Inner Artist: Part 1

Find your style and what makes you unique.

When I first started shooting Landscapes several years ago, I tried to emulate other Photographers in the current industry. I knew I was no Ansel Adams and that would be a stretch, so I looked toward other artists that I wanted to mimic. I always wanted that graphic sort of look like some of Trey Ratcliff’s images coupled with the finite details of Matt Kloskowski. I loved the locations they shot and how they always seemed to capture the right time, the right place, and I was very envious of their processing skills.

Needless to say, I spent a lot of time trying to be someone else. It is a sad truth really, but ultimately I was wasting a lot of time trying to become someone I never could. Sure I could go to the same places, take the same shots, and attempt to process them the same way but I would never be able to make the same artistic decisions they did. This is not because they are better artists than me, but because we are instinctively different artists.

This is a tough concept to wrap your head around, however, I want you to really think about this the next time you process a photo with the intent to be like someone else or even wish your images looked like someone else’s. It took me a long time to figure this out so I want to save you some time here.

The more time you spend trying to be someone else as an artist the farther away you get from the artist within.

I was trying to develop the artistic style of someone else. While this was happening my own style was developing and I was clueless to it. It is certainly okay to like another person’s style and even try it on for size every once in a while, but don’t get so consumed with the idea that you reject the style you are developing in the meantime.

Since the beginning of time every artist has given the world their unique style. How do you find what makes you unique? These three steps will get you on the right track.

Before you begin developing any style I want you to start thinking of yourself as an artist. If you are on this site right now reading this, then you are no longer ‘just’ a photographer. You are an artist.

When you are processing a photo and find a technique or look that speaks to you, you are on the way to developing your style. Now elaborate on that emotion.

No matter what the art is, it is emotive. Don’t shy away from the emotions in the process of developing a style. There will always be an image that speaks to you, find out why it does and elaborate on it.

f.64 Academy and f.64 Elite are the brainchildren of Blake Rudis. While he is a landscape photographer he is most passionate about post-processing images in Photoshop and mentoring others.

For Blake, it is less about the art and more about the process. He dives deep into difficult topics and makes them easy to understand through his outside the box thinking.

11 Comments

Jean Ambrosii
on April 24, 2015 at 9:22 am

Your words here have touched me greatly. I have been trying to find my artist within for years. Trey Ratcliffe’s work fascinates me but, as you say, one needs to find their own style and develop it. I am looking forward to finding mine with your help!

Awesome to hear Jean! It is tough to find that in yourself. In many ways I am stilling finding it myself. Over the next two weeks I will put out the next 2 parts. I do this for a reason to let you linger on the current topic and put some thought toward it. Glad you are already thinking ahead!

How true for years my landscape photography was pretty bland. The last couple of years with your help and the lesions from topaz, my landscapes have become my own style. Take a look at my website it is a work in progress but I would really appreciate your comments.

Your statements have really rung true with me. I seem to spend a lot of time looking at others work and thinking that I want to be able to make images/art just like them. I’ve often felt as though I’ve lost inspiration as the price of trying to be someone other than myself. I do see this as a hindrance to my own growth as a photographer and an artist. Over the last couple of months I’ve been focusing on trying to find then develop my own (and hopefully unique) artistic style. I don’t eschew learning style queues from artists such as yourself and others both contemporary and in the past. But, I do see the importance of finding and following my own path of discovery. I do, very much look forward to more of your thoughts on this subject.

I am glad they have resonated with you Eric. This is a topic I feel pretty strongly about as it is very easy to yearn for another’s style. the whole time this happens our own style is usually screaming at us. Pay attention to the little nuances, the small things, those are the things that are screaming for attention.

I will be sure to include the next few topics in the email over the next two weeks so you won’t miss them!

Only this year I made a promise to myself that I would only take and process images to please myself. Over the years I have been “brainwashed” by club judges on what is expected and how all the “rules” must be obeyed to create the right image. Guess what! Every ones images all look the same. I have broken away from the Camera Clubs now and I am enjoying what I am doing. Thanks to you and your fresh approach to photography and post processing I don’t feel guilty now if I want to create something different.

Blake, I see the effects of the Arcanum in your recent writing. I think being a mentor is good for you, and I see you growing as you help others grow as well. This post is a perfect example. I look forward to the next installment and watching you grow together with your cohort.